A brief walk through the memory lane and the present campus

With a legacy spanning over a century, St Berchmans college embodies a rich heritage and a profound history. It was established by the Catholic hierarchy of the region, an initiative rooted in a significant directive from the Holy See. The college’s early years were marked by intense challenges. Yet, it was through the unwavering commitment, innovative strategies, and personal sacrifices of its founding leaders that the institution endured and began to thrive.

In this account, we take a brief look at the first two decades of the college’s journey, focusing on the individuals who led it through its formative years. We highlight their contributions to the development of the institution and note how their legacy is honoured, through the naming of various campus buildings that stand as lasting tributes for future generations.

Brief walk through the first two decades of the college

Genesis of the college:

In 1887, responding to the aspirations of the Syrian Catholic faithful in Kerala, Pope Leo XIII separated them from the Archdiocese of Verapoly and established the Syrian Vicariates of Kottayam and Trichur. Rev. Dr. Charles Lavigne, S.J., a French Jesuit, was appointed as the Vicar Apostolic and became the first resident bishop of the Syrian Catholic Diocese of Kottayam. With the approval of the Holy See, he later moved his residence to Changanacherry in 1889.

The School a prelude to the college

In 1891, Bishop Mar Charles Lavigne established a school in Changanacherry with the vision of eventually founding a college. He named the school after St. John Berchmans, a Jesuit seminarian from Belgium who died in 1621 at the age of 22 and was canonized by Pope Leo XIII in 1888, just three years before the founding of the school. The choice of name reflects a shared Jesuit identity: both Bishop Lavigne and newly canonized St John Berchmans.

In 1895, Bishop Charles Lavigne traveled to Rome with the intention of raising funds to establish a college. However, there was increasing demand among the faithful for a native bishop, leading to the appointment of Mar Thomas Kurialacherry in 1911.

Founding of the College

Responding to popular appeal, Mar Thomas Kurialacherry took the initiative to found the college. In 1922, Madras University granted affiliation. The college began functioning in a newly constructed building intended for a minor seminary, located on the premises of Parel St Mary’s Church.

Rev. Fr. Mathew Purackal, the first postgraduate from the Diocese of Changanacherry, was appointed Principal and entrusted with the task of raising funds for the institution.

Relocation to Present Campus

Construction on the current campus began in 1922 on land purchased earlier by Bishop Charles Lavigne, S.J. The first three-storied building was completed by 1925, and the college was relocated from Parel to the new site. This single structure housed classrooms, the library, administrative offices, the Principal’s residence, and a hostel.

The Tower Building construction 1927-37

In 1927, the college was upgraded to offer degree-level programs, necessitating a new building. Construction began in the year itself, but a shortage of funds placed immense pressure on Principal Rev. Fr. Mathew Purackal. The original architectural plan, which was a three storied building, had to be scaled down, and only the ground floor was completed by 1934. There was pressure to complete the construction from the university and also the government which sanctioned funds. To raise the funds, staff salaries were cut, prompting complaints that led to an inquiry by the Syndicate of Madras University. The college’s affiliation came under threat, and Principal, Fr. Mathew Purackal resigned in 1936.

On March 10, 1936, Rev. Fr. Romeo Thomas TOCD (CMI), a priest from outside the diocese, was appointed as Principal to salvage the situation.

Administrative Reform and Completion: Bishop Mar James Kalacherry, as the Proprietor of the college, decided to provide financial stability. He ensured adequate funding for completing construction and for meeting operational expenses.

The main block, originally planned with three floors, was completed with two floors. The building to accommodate the science departments, with the tower and the statue of Christ the King, was inaugurated in May 1937. Designed in a Gothic style and centrally located, this building, with its statue, became the defining symbol of the college.

Why Christ the King Statue: In 1925, Pope Pius XI instituted the Feast of Christ the King, adding it to the liturgical calendar. This inspired the college authorities to place a statue of Christ the King atop the main tower planned in 1927. When the college chapel was built in 1940, it was named Christ the King Chapel as a continuation of this dedication. The statue remains a unique and iconic symbol of the college, noted for its distinctive appearance and prominence.

Honouring Legacy: Presence of St Berchmans and the College Founders on Campus

St Berchmans’ Presence
A strong spiritual and symbolic presence of St Berchmans endures across the campus. A bust of the saint is placed in a niche at the center of the ground floor of the college’s oldest building. Another bust adorns the lobby beneath the staircase of the Tower Building. When the Sahrudhya Hostel was partitioned, one section was renamed Berchmans Hostel. At the Berchmans Institute of Management Studies, the syndicate room is known as the Berchmans Room.

A statue of the saint, accompanied by an inscription, was installed in the atrium of the Administrative Block, completed in 2018. Most significantly, in 2022, marking the college’s centenary year, a sacred relic of St Berchmans, brought from Belgium via the Vatican, was enshrined in the college chapel, solidifying the saint’s spiritual presence at the heart of campus life.

Mar Charles Lavigne (1887-1895)
Mar Charles Lavigne, the first bishop of Changanacherry, conceptualized, named the school/college and purchased the plot in present campus, To commemorate him, one of the most recent buildings on the campus, bears his name. The indoor stadium, funded by the UGC in 2009 and completed in 2018, stands today as the Mar Charles Lavigne Indoor Stadium, honouring his visionary contribution.

Mar Thomas Kurialacherry (1911- 25)

The college’s founder, bishop Mar Thomas Kurialacherry, is commemorated through the Kurialacherry Block, the first building constructed on the campus. It houses the Departments of English, Economics, and Oriental Languages.

Mar James Kalacherry (1927- 49)

Bishop Mar James Kalacherry assumed financial responsibility for the institution and oversaw the completion of the Tower Building. Appropriately, this building is named Kalacherry block. This structure now houses the Departments of Physics and Chemistry.

Msgr Jacob Kallarackal (1922- 37)

The college’s first manager, Msgr Jacob Kallarackal, personally donated funds to convert an existing gymnasium into a hall and to build the college chapel. The original hall, named Msgr Kallarackal Hall, was later demolished to make way for the Administrative Block in 2018. A new conference hall within this building is named Kallarackal Hall, ensuring his contributions are not forgotten.

Rev. Fr Mathew Purackal (1922-35)

Rev. Fr Mathew Purackal, the college’s first principal, led during a time of immense difficulty. He undertook various initiatives to raise funds, including bank loans, chit funds, and the purchase of agricultural plantations. He also sought help from his extended family. His maternal cousin, Malayil Varkey Ouseph (Kochuthachen) of Thathampally, Alappuzha, a spice exporter, donated a Statue of Christ the King imported from Spain. At Ouseph’s request, his name remained anonymous for many years.

Another cousin, K.V. Thomas of Pottamkulam, a local planter from Kanjirappally, donated funds to purchase land adjacent to the college, now the football field beside M.C. Road. In his memory, the ground is marked with a signpost reading Thomas Pottamkulam Grounds. Fr Purackal also enlisted Thomas’s help to secure financial support from J.J. Murphy, the legendary rubber planter.

Despite his tireless efforts, financial pressures persisted. In 1936, the University of Madras required his resignation. In recognition of his sacrifices, the Administrative Block built in 2018 features the Purackal Conference Room adjacent to the Principal’s office, a lasting tribute to the man who laid the foundations of the institution through perseverance and personal dedication.

Buildings Named in Honor of Former Patrons

Archbishop Mar Mathew Kavukattu (1950–1969)
Following the passing of Archbishop Mar Mathew Kavukattu, a revered patron, SB and Assumption Colleges initiated a fundraising campaign to build a large auditorium in his memory. The Archbishop Kavukattu Hall, completed and blessed in 1974, stands as a grand tribute to this esteemed figure. A member of the college’s first batch, Mar Kavukattu also served as a faculty member, warden, and patron. The auditorium underwent modernization in 2023, further enhancing its legacy.

Cardinal Antony Padiyara (1970–1985)
To honour Mar Antony Padiyara, patron of the college, later Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, and Cardinal, an air-conditioned conference hall was named after him and later renovated in 2021 to feature a cinema-theater ambiance. Additionally, the entire building housing the hall has been named the Cardinal Antony Padiyara Block, commemorating his contributions. The four storied building houses Mathematics, Commerce, Zoology and Botany departments.

Mar Joseph Powathil (1985–2007)
Mar Joseph Powathil, who served the college in various capacities, as a student, faculty member, warden, manager, and patron, is remembered through the Powathil Jubilee Hall, located on the ground floor of the Science Research building. In recognition of his enduring impact, the building has since been renamed the Archbishop Powathil Research Block.

The campus of St Berchmans College continues to echo the legacy of its visionary founders. Through its enduring heritage, commemorative spaces, and timeless academic spirit, the college stands as a living tribute, honouring the values, dedication, and foresight of those who laid its foundations.

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